中国科学院心理健康重点实验室知识库

从高个体关联且激发深度加工的锚值设计思路出发,在老年人及青少年身心健康领域开展现场助推实验,探索内部锚与精细锚的设计方法及其有效性。实验1探讨积极怀旧内部锚对老年人情绪状态和幸福感的影响。采用两因素混合设计,通过10周怀旧故事分享建立老年人积极怀旧内部锚(积极怀旧故事数),检验积极怀旧内部锚对情绪状态及幸福感的作用。结果显示,积极怀旧组的积极情绪及幸福感水平显著高于自由怀旧组。实验2探讨精细锚对中学生体育活动坚持性的影响。被试分别阅读精细锚、粗略区间锚和无锚条件的个性化"激励贴士"后进行体育活动测试,结果发现,精细锚组坚持激励度自评及成绩提升比均高于其他组。综合分析表明,内部锚和精细锚设计能够对人们身心健康起到积极助推作用。锚值与个体关联且激发深度加工,进而引发情绪情感及动机变化是产生影响的机制。本研究对于提升老年人和青少年身心健康及丰富其途径和方法具有现实意义。 

Anchoring effect refers to the phenomenon that a target estimation was influenced by the numerical anchor value in the way that the final judgment would be close to the anchor value. Previous studies have found that external anchor could improve ones' attitudes and behaviors that may promote their physical and mental health. However, studies about other anchor types were not being found in the literature.

Anchor values ​​that are highly personally relevant can stimulate deep processing. The current study integrated anchor value with prevention science, conducted two on-site experiments that focused on the physical and mental health of older adults and adolescents, and explored design options of internal anchors and fine anchors and their effectiveness in improving outcomes.

Experiment 1 examined the effect of positive nostalgia on the emotional state and well-being of older adults. A two-factor mixed design was adopted. A positive nostalgic internal anchor (the number of positive reminiscences) was built through 10-week nostalgic story sharing. 80 senior citizens participated in 10 weeks’ interventions of compelling narrative life sharing (positive nostalgia condition) and collecting life stories (free nostalgia condition). The subjects shared two stories per week about different topics. The first experiment tested whether the positive nostalgia of internal anchors had any effect on positive emotions and happiness. The results showed that, the number of pleasant and inspirational stories (positive internal anchor) in positive nostalgia group was significantly higher than those in the free nostalgia group. The positive mood and well-being of the positive nostalgia group (intervention group) were significantly higher than those of the free nostalgia group (control).

Experiment 2 examined the influence of fine anchor on persistence of physical activity among middle school students. There were three study conditions: fine anchors, rough interval anchors and no anchors. According to their base line performance in plank and 2 minutes rope skipping, 180 adolescents were divided into 3 groups Individualized “motivation tips” were delivered before the second experiment. It was found that the self-reported persistence levels and improvement rates were higher among students in the fine anchor group than those of the other two groups. Results of comprehensive analysis showed that the designed internal anchors and fine anchors played an active role in promoting physical and mental health among older adults and adolescents.

The study provided evidence that self-generating internal anchor or fine anchor for individual promotes positive attitudes and behaviors on physical and mental health. A possible mechanism of the effect could be that the anchor values were personally relevant and could stimulate deep processing, which in turn triggered changes in feelings, emotions, or motives. Results of the study have implications on practical significance for improving the physical and mental health of older adults and adolescents and for increasing ways and methods to improve their health.